Woman killed in crash on Highway 15

Cris RitchieEditor

June 10, 2013

GRAPEVINE – One person was killed in a head-on collision Monday morning in Perry County, and officials say weather may have been a contributing factor.

Perry County Deputy Ruey Couch said the crash happened along Highway 15 in the Grapevine community when a Lexus passenger car apparently crossed the center line and collided head-on with a Chevrolet Avalanche. No other vehicles were involved.

The driver of the Lexus, identified as 65-year-old Mary Walker of Louisville, was pronounced dead at the scene by the Perry County Coroner’s Office. Deputy Couch said the crash also took the life of a dog inside the vehicle.

The driver of the Chevrolet, Jerry Hensley, age 50 of Jackson, was transported to the Hazard ARH medical center for treatment of what Couch called non-life threatening injuries. Couch noted Hensley was alert and on his feet at the scene.

Though the investigation is still in its early stages, the road was wet at the time of the collision and Couch said it was also raining, and that could have played a role in the crash.

“I don’t know if she hydroplaned or what,” Couch said. “We’ve got two witnesses saying she came in his lane and hit him head-on.”

Highway 15 was shut down for about an hour Monday morning, but has since been reopened.